Knoxville Personal Injury Lawyers

Fighting for the Compensation You Deserve

You deserve to have someone looking out for you after being injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault. This is undoubtedly a frustrating and difficult time for you and your family, but you can be empowered to change your situation.

Types of Compensation for Personal Injury Claims

Filing a personal injury claim under the guidance of a knowledgeable injury attorney will give you a chance to claim compensation for the damages you have suffered.

Compensation from a personal injury claim can provide you compensation for:

• Pain and suffering
• Medical expenses
• Loss of income from time off work
• Loss of employment
• Emotional distress

Injured due to someone else’s negligence? You shouldn’t have to face medical bills and lost wages alone. Contact us today at (865) 544-2010 for a free consultation and let us fight for the compensation you deserve.

What is the Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Cases in Tennessee?

Statute of limitations are a legal time limit on how long you have to file your claim in court. In the state of Tennessee, you have one year from the date of your injury to file a claim in court or you lose the right to do so. This prevent from indefinitely threating a lawsuit against someone else. Contact the Knoxville personal injury attorneys from Eldridge and Cravens, PC right away to get started on your case!

What are the Benefits of Hiring a Knoxville Personal Injury Lawyer?

When you’re injured in an accident, the last thing you want to do is worry about legal details. But if you don’t have a personal injury attorney on your side, that’s exactly what you may have to do.

A personal injury attorney can take care of all the legal aspects of your case so that you can focus on getting better. Your attorney will also ensure that you get the full compensation you deserve.

There are many benefits to hiring a personal injury attorney, including:

• Expertise and experience. A personal injury lawyer knows the ins and outs of the law and can help you navigate the complex legal system.
• Handle all the paperwork. An attorney can make sure that all the necessary paperwork is filed in a timely manner and ensure you do not make any mistakes on your claim.
• Negotiation skills. Your lawyer will be able to negotiate with the other party’s insurance company on your behalf to get you the best possible settlement.
• Access to resources. A personal injury attorney has access to important resources, such as investigators and reliable witnesses, that can help your case.
• Peace of mind. Knowing that you have an experienced professional on your side can give you peace of mind during a difficult time.

If you’ve been injured in an accident, don’t try to handle everything on your own. Hire our Knoxville personal injury attorney at Eldridge and Cravens, PC, to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve

Common Types of Personal Injury Cases

Personal injury claims cover a wide range of accidents caused by negligence. Two of the most common types include:

Slip and Fall Accidents – Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe premises. If hazardous conditions, such as wet floors, broken stairs, or poor lighting, cause someone to slip and get injured, the property owner may be held liable. These accidents often occur in stores, restaurants, sidewalks, and private residences.

Medical Malpractice – When healthcare providers fail to meet the standard of care, patients can suffer serious harm. Common medical malpractice cases include surgical errors, misdiagnosis, medication mistakes, and birth injuries. Holding negligent medical professionals accountable can help victims secure compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term care.

Understanding Comparative Fault in Tennessee

Tennessee follows a modified comparative fault rule, which means that even if you share some responsibility for your accident, you may still recover compensation—as long as you are less than 50 percent at fault.

How comparative fault works:

If you are found 20 percent at fault, your total compensation will be reduced by 20 percent.

If you are found 50 percent or more at fault, you will not be able to recover any damages.

For example, if you were awarded $100,000 in damages but were determined to be 20 percent at fault, you would receive $80,000 after the reduction. Insurance companies often try to shift more blame onto victims to lower their payouts, which is why having a skilled attorney can protect your claim.

Dealing with Insurance Companies After an Injury

After an accident, you may need to communicate with an insurance adjuster, but it is important to be cautious. Insurance companies prioritize their bottom line and will try to minimize what they pay.

Key tips when dealing with insurers:

Do not admit fault – Even a simple apology could be used against you.

Avoid giving recorded statements – Insurers may twist your words to reduce your payout.

Consult an attorney before accepting a settlement – Early offers are often much lower than what you deserve.

By working with an experienced personal injury lawyer, you can negotiate a fair settlement and ensure you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries.

Auto Accidents

Auto accidents are one of the most common reasons people file personal injury claims. In order to claim compensation for these injuries, you will need to prove that the other driver was responsible for the accident. However, this is only half the battle.

Even if the other driver is accepting responsibility for their role in the accident, their insurance company will be the one compensating you. Insurance companies do whatever they can to minimize their expenses and protect their bottom line. It is recommended that you do not speak too much with the insurance company, and instead hire an injury lawyer who can deal with them on your behalf.

Insurance companies have a history of offering low settlement offers to avoid paying everything accident victims deserve. While it is not recommended that you outright reject an offer, you should not accept one until you and your attorney have calculated the maximum compensation you deserve.

Workers’ Compensation

If you were injured at work and your employer has workers’ compensation insurance (which most Tennessee employers are required to have), then your injury claim will be handled differently than normal.

In fact, you won’t really be filing an injury claim at all. You will be filing for workers’ compensation, which means that the insurance company should be paying for your expenses and loss of income as outlined by the insurance policy.

Am I Eligible for Workers’ Compensation?

In order to obtain workers’ comp, you must meet the following criteria:

• You are a current or former employee of the workers’ comp policyholder
• Your injury was directly caused by your job
• You timely reported your claim to you employer and timely filed your claim

If your injury was directly related to your job and not caused by a third party, then you must obtain your compensation through workers’ compensation and not a personal injury claim.